Decorating

An invitation into beloved food writer's inner sanctum

What's cooking at Judy's place

Judy Schultz poses with rich, French-press coffee at the ready in her warm, inviting kitchen.

Photograph by: Bruce Edwards
, The Edmonton Journal

The biscuits are set out with cool butter, cranberry-orange marmalade and strong coffee from a French press.

The pastry melts on the tongue, save for the crispy biscuit bottom and its delicate crunch. The marmalade is tart-sweet; the butter is creamy.

A sip of rich, dark coffee and I'm left sans biscuit and with an annoying whisper from my conscience. Mind your manners.

"I'm not sure these biscuits are any good," I say, con-science be damned. "I best try another."

Judy laughs. She knows a line when she hears it. She likely also knows her biscuits are gold.

Judy Schultz is one of the country's finest food writers. Hell, she's one of Canada's finest writers, period.

For years I was in awe of her. Still am, really. Judy's writing carried me off to distant lands and so filled my senses with exotic aromas and flavours I craved things I couldn't pronounce.

Now I'm at her house and checking out the spacious office where it all gets done. Her laptop sits on a vintage Chinese desk, surrounded by shelves of books organized by country and cuisine.

She has written mostly about food. But Mamie's Children, nominated for the Governor General's Award, was a memoir and Freddy's War a work of fiction.

In all, she's written or co-authored more than a dozen books. As readers of the Edmonton Journal know, Judy worked at the paper for years. Now she writes what she wants and for whom she wants.

Her Sherwood Park home is absolutely indistinct from the street. An iron gate opens into a small cloister and then it's up the steps and into Ed and Judy's home.

They built the house 43 years ago and added to it over the years. We start in the backyard, which backs onto a golf course. The tall trees and foliage are dense enough that only stray Titleists betray the goings-on behind the property.

The backyard was once all grass and playground for the two Schultz boys. But once the kids were dispatched into the world, Ed and Judy converted the space into a shrub and flower garden with paths to wander and places to sit.

Betwixt home and yard is a bright, comfy sun room, created from what was once a deck. Just inside is the dining room, created from what was once the family room.

Next to it is another realm where Judy creates magic - the kitchen. Judy designed it, yet is bothered by one issue, the gap in the horseshoe counter.

Apparently, guests feel they must wander into her sacred cooking realm to help out.

"It's a one-person kitchen," she says.

By the way, Judy swears by her KitchenAid, as well as her dual-fuel range.

Just off the kitchen is the former dining room, now used as a more formal sitting area. It looks down into a sunken living room, which Judy shrugs off as an artifact of mid-century design.

That it may be. But to this artifact of the mid-century, it looks like the perfect place to watch Hockey Night in Canada and eat Kraft Dinner and wieners off a TV table.

Judy says the house was one of the first on the street and in what was then a rural subdivision.

"We're both from small towns and Sherwood Park still has that feel," Judy says.

Just off the kitchen and down one hall is the master bedroom. No ensuite.

In fact, the facilities across the hall are rather utilitarian compared to the richly decorated W.C. off the guest room.

Down another hall from the kitchen is Judy's office, with its large windows looking out on the gorgeous backyard.

These days, Judy is writing a blog - Judyink.ca - as well as magazine articles. She's also planning a book, roughly titled: Shorts Stories About How to Murder Someone in the Kitchen.

Ed, who for 33 years was general manager of the Alberta Pork Producers, seems unconcerned by the title. Apparently, he's learned to avoid the kitchen.

Judy says she often writes to music - jazz or blues - played very quietly. Ed often wanders into her 500-square-foot office to sit and read while she writes.

"But if he makes too much noise he has to leave," says Judy with a laugh.

Which is my cue.

As I wander out I remember there are still biscuits left uneaten.

But for once, I mind my manners.

Scott can be reached at Scott@ScottMcKeen.ca for comments or suggestions for future features on unique or beautiful homes in the Edmonton region.

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